Governor Polis and Colorado Energy Office Celebrate New Funding for Renewable Energy in Colorado

DENVER - On September 11, 2024, Governor Polis and the Colorado Energy Office received $1.96 million from the U.S Department of Energy through Renewable Energy Siting Through Technical Engagement and Planning (R-STEP) to streamline the development of solar, agrivoltaics, wind, battery energy storage, geothermal projects, and other critical clean energy infrastructure across Colorado by improving siting and permitting of projects. This funding will help the Colorado Energy Office to partner with local governments, developers and landowners to accelerate renewable adoption and ensure Colorado reaches 100% clean energy by 2040 and save Coloradans money on energy bills. 

“Colorado is rapidly expanding our use of the heat beneath our feet to save people money and for reliable clean energy. This funding will allow us to accelerate our -leading work on geothermal siting and development, helping us improve air quality and reliability, promote innovation across the state, and protect our environment for future generations,” said Governor Polis. 

“The Colorado Energy Office is thrilled to receive this support from the Department of Energy. With this funding, we will be able to collaborate and engage with local governments, developers, landowners and community members to provide more on-the-ground resources for siting decisions and expand our uptake of large-scale renewable energy across the state,” said Will Toor, Executive Director of the Colorado Energy Office. 

The U.S. Department of Energy announced six state-based collaboratives to receive funding through the second round of the R-STEP Program. Governor Polis and the Colorado Energy Office plan to utilize the federal funds to expand on Colorado's renewable energy initiatives by providing the necessary tools, resources and technical assistance to local governments to support smart and efficient permitting. 

Previously, Colorado has provided $7.7 million in grant funding through the Geothermal Energy Grant Program for 35 initiatives across the state to advance the use of zero-emissions geothermal energy in Colorado, and create more opportunities in the energy sector. Governor Polis launched the Heat Beneath Our Feet initiative as Chair of the Western Governors Association to look at the opportunities and barriers to deploying more geothermal energy to save people money and provide reliable, low-cost clean energy. The initiative led to a report that showed significant benefits of tapping into geothermal energy and that the West is primed to take advantage of this important resource.